FDA Gives Full OK to Novavax COVID Shot for High-Risk Groups

MONDAY, May 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, but only for certain people.

The vaccine is now approved for adults ages 65 and older, or for people ages 12 to 64 who have at least one health condition that puts them at higher risk of s...

Former President Joe Biden Diagnosed With Aggressive Prostate Cancer

MONDAY, May 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office announced Sunday.

Doctors found the cancer after Biden reported urinary symptoms. Testing showed a small nodule on his prostate. 

His medical team said the cancer has ...

New Models Help Docs Distinguish Severe Pneumonia In Children

MONDAY, May 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — New predictive models can accurately distinguish mild, moderate and severe pneumonia in children, helping determine which kids need hospitalization or intensive care.

Children with a runny nose and congestion are 41% less likely to be suffering from moderate or severe pneumonia, researchers fou...

Doctors Perform First-Ever Human Bladder Transplant in U.S.

MONDAY, May 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Doctors in Southern California have performed the first human bladder transplant, offering new hope to people with serious bladder problems.

The surgery was done earlier this month by two doctors from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Southern California (US...

GLP-1 Drugs Appear To Lower Cancer Risk

MONDAY, May 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Cutting-edge GLP-1 weight-loss drugs appear to help lower cancer risk even beyond the benefits from dropping excess pounds, a new study says.

First-generation GLP-1 drugs like liraglutide (Saxenda) and exenatide (Byetta) were associated with a 41% lower risk of obesity-related cancers, compared...

Couch Potatoes Have Greater Risk Of Brain Decline, Even If They Exercise

MONDAY, May 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Couch potatoes are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, even if they set aside time to work out each day, a new study says.

People who spent more time sitting around were more likely to experience cognitive decline and brain degeneration, no matter how much they exercised, research...

Black Patients, Women Face Worse Outcomes, Death In Heart & Blood Vessel Procedures

MONDAY, May 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Women and Black patients are more likely to suffer life-changing complications from advanced heart and blood vessel procedures, a trio of new studies says.

Women face a higher risk of complications after procedures aimed at replacing heart valves or altering the heart’s structure to reduc...

Song Lyrics Matter When Managing Your Mood, Study Says

MONDAY, May 19, 2025 (HealthDay New) — Looking for a little uplift from Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” or “Happy” by Pharrell Williams?

Or perhaps you’re in a reflective mood and would rather hear “Forever Young” by Alphaville or “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper.

P...

AI Can Help Track MS Progression

MONDAY, May 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Artificial intelligence (AI) can help detect when a person’s multiple sclerosis (MS) has reached an advanced state, a new study says.

A newly developed AI correctly judged with 90% accuracy when a person’s MS had transitioned to a stage where it will progress steadily, researchers r...

Chimpanzees' Drumming May Be Ancient Form of Communication

SATURDAY, May 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) — When a chimp pounds rhythmically on a towering tree root deep in the jungle, it may be doing more than just making noise. 

A new study suggests that drumming could be one of the earliest forms of communication shared by chimpanzees and humans, The Associated Press reported.

Novo Nordisk, U.S. Biotech Company Team Up to Create Obesity Pills

FRIDAY, May 16, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk is teaming up with California-based biotech Septerna to develop new pills to treat obesity, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

The deal could be worth up to $2.2 billion for Septerna. This includes more than $200 million in upfront and short-term milesto...

Custom Gene Editing Helps Baby With Rare Condition

FRIDAY, May 16, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A baby born with a rare and deadly genetic disease is the world's first known patient to receive an experimental gene editing treatment designed just for him.

KJ Muldoon from Clifton Heights, Pa., is thriving after the therapy to fix a tiny but essential flaw in his genetic code, doctors said t...

Toxic Metals Found in All Rice Samples in New Study

FRIDAY, May 16, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A new report says rice sold in U.S. stores contains toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.

The report — released by Healthy Babies, Bright Futures — found arsenic in 100% of rice samples tested from stores in 20 metro areas, including New York City, Los An...

Republican Medicaid Cuts Could Cause Rural Hospital Closures, CEOs Warn HealthDay TV

FRIDAY, May 16, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Proposed cuts to Medicaid could be devastating to America’s rural hospitals, health care CEOs are warning in interviews with HealthDay.

House Republicans have proposed an $880 billion reduction in Medicaid funding. Combined with other health care cuts, the package could leave as many as 8...

Medicare Low-Income Drug Benefit Saves Lives, Study Says

FRIDAY, May 16, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Low-income Medicare beneficiaries are more likely to die if they lose access to crucial medication coverage, a new study says.

More than 14 million poor Medicare beneficiaries receive the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), which further reduces their drug costs, researchers said in backg...

Adults Diagnosed With Type 1 Diabetes Face Heart Health Issues, Risk Of Early Death

FRIDAY, May 16, 2025 (HealthDay News) — People who develop type 1 diabetes in adulthood have a higher risk of heart disease and death, a new study says.

However, these patients can improve their odds through healthy lifestyle habits, researchers reported May 14 in the European Heart Journal.

“We show that the pro...

Houston Wastewater Foretold Texas Measles Outbreak

FRIDAY, May 16, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Measles virus popped up in Houston wastewater weeks before a notorious Texas outbreak of the highly infectious disease started in January, a new study says.

Wastewater samples collected Jan. 7 contained genetic evidence of measles virus, researchers reported in the American Journal of Publi...